Article

When terrorists govern : protecting civilians in conflicts with state-building armed groups

Mara R. Revkin

• Harvard national security journal, Vol. 9, issue 1, 2018, p. 100-145 : tabl.

English

The emergence of terrorist groups engaging in the dual functions of warfare and governance necessitates the implementation of a new targeting doctrine. Existing counter-terror targeting doctrines, notably U.S. counter-terrorism policies, have resulted in the death of civilians and destruction of objects, which ultimately implicates important international humanitarian law considerations. The author explores the consequences of the use of the current targeting doctrine and provides recommendations that promote greater adherence to international humanitarian law. This article is supported by archival Islamic State documents, social media data generated by users in or near Islamic State-controlled areas of Syria and Iraq, interviews with former Islamic State combatants and civilian employees, and original data on the targeting of 11 different "zakat" offices.

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